Capsule closing and ejecting mechanism



July 23, 1957 A. COOK ETAL CAPSULE CLOSING AND EJECTING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 23, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet l 6 I84 2 F 4 4 17 I72 INVENTORS ALTEN E. WHITECAR ALLEN COOK a JACK A. MARTELL BY 0m MVM ATTORNEYS July 23, 195 A. COOK ETAL 2,799,983

CAPSULE CLOSING AND EJECTING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 23, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 l-zss INVENTORS ALTEN E. WH'ITECAR F56. 5. ALLEN COOK a JACK A. MARTELL fiMW ATTORNEYS Ju y 23, 1957 I A. COOK ETAL 2,799,983

CAPSULE CLOSING AND 'EJECTING MECHANISM 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 23, 1956 INVENTORS ALTEN E. WHITECAR ALLEN COOK Bi JACK A. MARTELL ATTORNEYS y 1957 A. COOK E 2,799,983

CAPSULE. CLOSING AND EJECTING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 23, 1956 6 shets-sheet 4 INVENTORS ALTEN E. WH!TECAR ALLEN COOK 8:

JACK A. MARTELL ATTORNEYS July 23, 1957 A. cooK Erm.

CAPSULE CLOSING AND EJECTING MECHANISM 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 23, 1956 ATTORNEYS y 1957 A. COOK ETAL 2,799,983

CAPSULE CLOSING AND EJECTING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 23, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 v INVENTORS ALTEN E. WHITECAR ALLEN COOK a JACK A. MAR ELL A TTORNEYS CAPSULE CLOSENG AND EJECTING NIECHANISMI Allen Qook, Philadelphia, Pa, and Jack A. Marteli and Alten E. Whitecar, Westville, N. J assignors to Smith, Kline & French Laboratories, Philadelphia, 3a., a cerporation of Pennsylvania Application January 23, 1956, Serial No. 560,484

7 Claims. (Cl. 53 -299) This invention relates to mechanism for closing and ejecting capsules which may be, for example, hard gelatin capsules such as are conventionally used in the pharmaceutical industry.

The closing and ejecting of capsules has been accomplished heretofore. paratus is satisfactory for some applications, it has been unsatisfactory where it is desired to quite fully fill the male portion of the capsule with material that does not pack firmly.

In accordance with this invention there is provided means for closing and ejecting capsules which can be rapidly and easily handled by the operator. Further, this invention provides means for closing and ejecting capsules which eliminates spilling from capsules well filled with material that does not pack firmly without any loss of efiiciency in ejecting the capsules.

These and other advantages of this invention will become obvious on reading the following description in conjunction with the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation partly broken away of a capsule closing and ejecting machine in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is a side perspective view partly broken away showing a pair of capsule rings mounted on the machine of Figure 1, showing the mechanism closely associated with the capsule rings;

Figure 3 is a schematic view of the controls for the machine of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a rear perspective view showing mechanism closely associated with the air ram of the machine of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a front perspective view of the control switch and closely associated mechanism operated by the lid of the machine of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a section taken on the line 66 in Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a plan view of the machine of Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the machine of Figure 1 showing a 90 rotation of the closing and ejecting mechanism.

Referring to Figure l, a capsule closing machine 2 in accordance with this invention has a supporting frame 4 with vertical support members 6 and 8. A shaft 10 is fixedly secured to a support member 12 which, in turn, is welded to plate 14. Similarly, a shaft 16 is fixedly secured to a support member 18 which is welded to plate 14. Shaft 10 is journaled in ball bearing 20 which is mounted on frame member 6 and shaft 16 similarly is journaled in ball bearing 22 which is bolted to upright frame member 8.

An air operated ram 26 is supported from plate 14 by a plurality of posts 28 which are respectively secured to plate 14 and ram 26. Ram 26 is provided with air lines 30 and 32 (Fig. 6). Piston rod 34 of ram 26 is threaded and carries a pair of nuts 36 and 38 between which a ring 40 is held. The terminal end of rod 34 has an opening 42 which is adapted to straddle screw 44 which is screwed to red 46 to hold a hard steel impact washer 50 which Although the previously known ap- Patented July 23, 1957 is adapted to be engaged by rod 34. Rod 46 passes through a central opening 52 in plate 14 and through an opening 54 in casting 56 which is mounted on plate 14 by posts 57. The outer end of rod 46 is secured to a circular plate 58 which carries a plurality of pins 60 which are adapted to be in registry with openings in capsule carrying rings as will be made apparent shortly. Rod 46 is secured to plate 58 by a hub 59 and spokes 62. Hub 59 rests on a circular ring plate 64 which is secured to casting 56.

As viewed in Figure 2, plate 58 has secured thereto a downwardly extending rod 66 which passes freely through opening 67 in plate 64 and which has an upper portion 68 which engages a roller 70 of a microswitch 74 and a reduced lower portion 72 which permits the microswitch 74 to be spring biased outwardly.

As shown in Figures 2 and 8, conventional capsule retaining plates 76 and 78 (see Patent 1,819,936) are ring shaped and have capsule openings 80 and 82, respectively, which are maintained in registry by means of pins 84, which are secured by a pressed fit in plate 76 and pass downwardly into openings 86 in plate 78 located in inwardly projecting portions 88.

As viewed in Figure 2, plate 78 is supported by a plurality of bell crank support members 94. Each member 94 passes downwardly through a slot 96 in plate 58 and a slot 98 in plate 64. Each member 94 is fulcrumed on a bracket 100 secured to the bottom of plate 64 and is pivotally connected to a link 1112 at 104. Each link 102 is pivotally secured to a bracket 185 which, in turn, is secured to a crossbar 186.

As best seen in Figure 4, each crossbar 106 is provided with a clevis 108 in which is pivotally secured a link 110 by a pin 111. Each link 110 is fulcrumed to a bracket 112 secured to support member 115 and has a clevis end 116 in which is pivotally secured a latch 118. Each latch 118 is biased inwardly by a spring strip 120 secured to support member 115. Latch 118 has a curved face 124 which is adapted to engage a cam face 126 on bracket 128 which is secured to ram 26. An extension coii spring 130 is secured to pin 111 and ram 26 and acts to bias latch 118 upwardly and crossbar 106 downwardly.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 4, a lid 134 has a plate member 136 which is fixedly secured by a nut 138 and a washer 140 to a threaded post 142 journaled in a bracket portion 144 of casting 56. As viewed in Figure 2, lid 134 is adapted to be rotated counterclockwise until its projection member 146 is engaged in a slot 148 in post 150 mounted on casting 56. An adjacent post 152 mounted on casting 56 acts as a limit stop to the rotation of lid 134 and acts along with a post 154 to assist in positioning rings 76 and 78.

A cam 156 (Figures 4 and 5) is secured to the bottom of post 142 by a threaded member 158 so that the cam 156 rotates with the post 142 and lid 134. A spring biased roller member 160 is adapted to follow cam 156 and actuate microswitch 162. A post 164, which is secured to lid 134, carries a pin 166 which actuates a counter 168.

The inner periphery of plate 136 has an upstanding flange 170 (Figure 2) within which is mounted an upstanding flange 172 of a plate 174. A plurality of right-angled brackets 176 are each secured t the exterior surface of flange 170 and each support an extension coil spring 178 which is secured to flange 172. The springs 178 act to bias flange 172 upwardly against the top of the brackets 176. A pair of links 188, 189 are pivotally secured to bracket 182 which, in turn, is secured to plate 174. Links 180, 188 are pivotally secured to lever 184 which, in turn, is fulcrumed on support member 186 and pivotally secured to rod 188 (Figure 4). Rod 1'88 passes downwardly through a bore 198 in post 142 and is pivotally connected at its lower end to a lever 192 which is fulcrumed on bracket 194 and which pivotally carries at its inner end, a

being substantially vertical.

latch 196. Latch 196 is biased inwardly by a leaf spring 198 and has a curved face 200 which is adapted to engage a cam face 202 on bracket 204 which is secured to ram 26. Latch 196 is identical with latch .118but lies a little. lower as viewed in Figure 4 so as to be engaged slightly later "by the downward movement of ring 40'. p

Referring to Figuresl and 7, to provide the necessary rotation of the mechanism, a segment gear 208 is fixedly secured to shaft 16 and meshes with a segment gear 2 1i secured to a hub 212 mounted on drive s ha'ft214 of air motor 216 having a 90 arc of rotation. It will beunderstood, of course, that numerous other driving means can be substituted for air motor 216. Referringnow tothe schematic showing of Figure 3 fora description. of the control means for supplying air to ram 26 and motor 216, there is a compr.esse d.air line 2 20 connected to a source of compressed air (notshown). Air line 220 is secured to a valve 222 which is connected to airlines 224 and 22 6. Valve'2 22 is a solen oi d controlled valve and provides for a flow or air into line .224 and out of line 226 or, alternatively, into line and out of line 224. Lines 224, 22am provided with flow regulator valves 228 and 230 which are adjusted to controlthe speedof operation of motor 216 to which lines 224, 226 are connected. Air line 224 has .a branch 232 which acts to supply a valve 234 with compressed air; Valve 234 is operated by a foot pedal 23 6 which is upwardly biased by a spring 238. Valve 2 34 acts to provide aflow of air into line 39 and exhaust air through line 32 or, alternatively, into line 32 and exhausted through line '30. Lines 30 and 32 are: connected to ram 26. A flow regulator valve 242 is placed in line 232 to-provide means for adjusting the speed of return of the ram 26.

Referring now to electrical components of the control means as shown in Figure 3, power supply :lines L1 and 7 ;L2 are connected to a relay {244. Line L1 contains switches 162 and 74 which are operated respectively by the move- ;ment of lid 134 and the movement -of plate .53 and rod 66. In addition, line L1 contains a switch 246 which is operated by foot pedal 236. Line L1 is alsoconnected to relay 24-4 by line 248 which acts as a holding circuit, line 248. having a contact 250 which is closed when the relay is energized. Line L1 is connected tosolenoid valve 222 by .line'252 which containsga contact 254, the contact 1254 being closed when the relay 244 is energized. Line L2 is connected to solenoidvalve 222 by a line 256.

Referring'particularly to Figures 7 and .8; achute 260 v.is secured to 'frme 4 by a plurality of "brackets 262. .Ohute269'is adapted to convey thecapsules to adesired glocation after they. are discharged from ,theclosing mechanism. Chute269 has an enlarged'upper end-264 adapted .to permit the entry of the rings, lid and associatedelements. .The left hand face of the chute, as viewed in :Figure 8, is cut away as shown at 266 toaccomrnodate mechanism is t mount capsule retaining. lates 76 and 7-8 on support'members 94 with pins69 started in openings 82. Plate- 78, in the conventional manner, will con- '-tain a plurality of filled capsule bodies 268 andp-late 76 .will containcapsule c'apsZT-tl. At this stage of the operation, the mechanism will be in an upright position, that is,

with the pins 60 standing substantially vertically and correspondinglywith the capsule bodies and capsule caps In this position the valve 222 (Figure 3) is supplying air to line 226 whichact-s to urge motor'21'6 to maintain the mechanism in the upright position. V

The operatornow grasps lid 134 and rotates it counterclockwise as viewed in -Figure7 so as -to bring projection member 146 into slot 148 and plate 136 into contact with post 152. This action acts to rotate cam 1516 (Figure which acts to close switch .162 in an earlyts'tage of the rotation of the cam. When this operation has been completed, the operator inserts his fingers under plate 58 and urges it upwardly to urge pins 60 against capsule bodies 263 and start the joinder of the bodies with the caps 270. Simultaneously rod 66 ('Figure 2) is raised sufficiently so as to bring the reduced portion 72 opposite roller which causes switch 74 to operate into the closed position.

The operator then presses downwardly on foot pedal 236 which closes switch 246, energizing relay 244 to close contacts 250 and 254. ,The closing of contact 254 actuates solneoid valve 222 to reverse the flow of air in lines 224 and 226 which causes motor 216 to operate in the reverse direction. As viewed in Figure 6, the operation of motor 216 causes segment gear 210 to rotate counterclockwise which results in the clockwise rotation of segment gear 208 which in turn causes the supporting structure for rings '76 and 78 to rotate clockwise. This rotation continues until the rings 76 and 78 have been rotatedi to'the p'os'it-ion shown in Figure 8. 7 i

Simultaneously with the reversal of flow of air to motor 216, air under pressure is supplied from lir1e224 to line 232 and hence to valve 234. The depression of th'e' foot pedal 236 actuates valve 234 so as to introduce compressed air into line 32 causing rod 34'to rnove upwardly, as viewed in Figure l, toengage rod 4 6 and force plate '58 and pins 64) upwardly into openings 82. This action forces the capsule bodies snugly into the capsule caps. It will be.

noted that this action takes place before tilting of retainingplates'7'6 and 78 and hence eliminates the spill-ling of any of the contents of the capsule bodies. Plate 136 acts to back up thecapsule caps..

When retaining plates 76 and 73 have been carried around so as to be substantially verticaL the foot pedal is released resulting in actuation of valve 234 to reverse the flow of air to ram 26, air now being supplied in line 30 and exhausted throughline 32. As best seen in Figure 4, the reverse movement of rod 34 causes ring. 49 to first engage latches 51 18 and thenlatch 1%; Latches 113 are engaged by ring 40 slightly before ring 49 engages latch 196. Latches 118 are moved towards brackets 126 causing levers to pivot and movecrossbars 106 towards rings 76 and 78 (Figure 2,). This, in turn, causes links 1432 to move towards retaining plates 76 and 78 and,

in turn, pivots support members 9 4 so that the portions supporting retaining plates 76 and 78 move radially clear of retainingplate 78.

The engagement of latch 19 6 by ring tlcauses lever 192 to be pivoted and move rod 183 so as to pivot lever 184 and cause plate 174 to move towards plate 76. Plate 174 engages the inwardly projecting portions 88 and inner margin of plate 76 and forces plates 76 and 78 towards plate 58. This causes the pins 60m eject the capsules from plates 76 and 78.

As latches 11 8 and 196 are carried downwardly still further, their curved faces 124 and 2% respectively come into contact with cam surfaces 126 and 202. This results in the camming'of the latches away from and out of engagement with ring 413. Springs 121 and 198 then rethe ring to fall clear of plate 174.

As the capsules are ejected, they fall directly downwardly between plate-76 and lid 134 and are caught by chute 260 which conveys them to the desired location.

In order to restore the remainder ofthemechanism its original fully opened position. Just before lid 13.4

216 now operates to return the structure to its upright position causing plate 58, hub 59 and rod 46 to move downwardly by gravity until hub 59 rests on plate 64, where the operation of the motor ceases due to the fact that it has only a 90 rotation. Retaining plates 76 and 78 are removed anytime after the lid 134 is clear of them. This permits springs 130 to pivot members 94 through their associated linkages back into position to support the next retaining plate 78.

It is not desired to be limited except as set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. Capsule closing and ejecting apparatus comprising: a capsule body retaining plate, a capsule cap retaining plate mounted on said capsule body retaining plate, pin means adapted to engage capsule bodies held in said body retaining plate, removable cover means adapted to be opposite the exposed face of said capsule cap retaining plate, releasable support means adapted to support said capsule body retaining plate in a substantially horizontal position, rotatable support means carrying said releasable support means, means mounted on said rotatable support means for advancing said pin means in the direction of said capsule bodies for closing the capsules, means for rotating said rotatable support means to tilt said capsule retaining plates, means to move said releasable support means out of engagement with the capsule body retaining plate and means to advance the capsule retaining plates away from the cover means to cause the pins to eject the capsules.

2. Capsule closing and ejecting apparatus comprising: a capsule body retaining plate, a capsule cap retaining plate mounted on said capsule body retaining plate, pin means adapted to engage capsule bodies held in said body retaining plate, removable cover means adapted to be opposite the exposed face of said capsule cap retaining plate, releasable support means adapted to support said capsule body retaining plate in a substantially horizontal position, rotatable support means carrying said releasable support means, means mounted on said rotatable support means for advancing said pin means in the direction of said capsule bodies for closing the capsules, means for rotating said rotatable support means to tilt said capsule retaining plates into a substantially vertical position, means to move said releasable support means out of engagement with the capsule body retaining plate and means to advance the capsule retaining plates away from the cover means to cause the pins to eject the capsules.

3. Capsule closing and ejecting apparatus comprising: a capsule body retaining plate, a capsule cap retaining plate mounted on said capsule body retaining plate, pin means adapted to engage capsule bodies held in said body retaining plate, removable cover means adapted to be opposite the exposed face of said capsule cap retaining plate, releasable support means adapted to support said capsule body retaining plate in a substantially horizontal position, rotatable support means carrying said releasable support means, means for rotating said rotatable support means to tilt said capsule retaining plates, a ram mounted on said rotatable support means and adapted to move said pin means in the direction of said capsule bodies for closing the capsules on its outward stroke and to engage on the return stroke said releasable support means to move said releasable support means out of engagement with the capsule body retaining plate and means to advance the capsule retaining plates away from the cover mean to cause the pin means to eject the capsules, said means being actuated by engagement with said ram on its return stroke.

4. Capsule closing and ejecting apparatus comprising: a capsule body retaining plate, a capsule cap retaining plate mounted on said capsule body retaining plate, rotatable support means, a ram mounted on said rotatable support means, pin means adapted to be engaged by said ram on its outward stroke to move in the direction of said capsule bodies for closing the capsules, releasable support means adapted to support said capsule body retaining plate in a substantially horizontal position, said ram engaging said support means on its return stroke to move the releasable support means out of engagement with the capsule body retaining plate and means to advance the capsule retaining plates away from the cover means to cause the pin means to eject the capsules, said means to advance the capsule retaining plates being releasably engaged by the ram on its return stroke.

5. Capsule closing and ejecting apparatus comprising: a capsule body retaining plate, a capsule cap retaining plate mounted on said capsule body retaining plate, rotatable support means, a ram mounted on said rotatable support means, pin means adapted to be engaged by said ram on its outward stroke to move in the direction of said capsule bodies for closing the capsules, a releasable support adapted to support said capsules body retaining plate in a substantially horizontal position, said releasable support being linked to a latch which is adapted to be engaged by the ram on its return stroke for the release of said support, a cam adjacent said latch and adapted to cam said latch out of engagement with the ram, spring means biasing said latch to its non-operative position and means to advance the capsule retaining plates away from the cover means to cause the pin means to eject the capsules, said means to advance the capsule retaining plates being releasably engaged by the ram on its return stroke.

'6. Capsule closing and ejecting apparatus comprising: a capsule body retaining plate, a capsule cap retaining plate mounted on said capsule body retaining plate, rotatable support means, a ram mounted on said rotatable support means, pin means adapted to 'be engaged by said ram on its outward stroke to move in the direction of said capsule bodies for closing the capsules, releasable support means adapted to support said capsule body retaining plate in a substantially horizontal position, said ram engaging said support means on its return stroke to move the releasable support means out of engagement with the capsule body retaining plate, a plate adapted to engage the capsule cap retaining plate at a point clear of the caps in said capsule retaining plate, means linking said plate to a latch adapted to be engaged on the return stroke of said ram, cam means adjacent said latch and adapted to cam said latch out of engagement with said ram and spring means adapted to move said latch back to its original non-operative position.

7. Capsule closing and ejecting apparatus comprising: a capsule body retaining plate, a capsule cap retaining plate mounted on said capsule body retaining plate, rotatable support means, a ram mounted on said rotatable support means, pin means adapted to be engaged by said ram on its outward stroke to move in the direction of said capsule bodies for closing the capsules, a releasable support adapted to support said capsule body retaining plate in a substantially horizontal position, said releasable support being linked to a latch which is adapted to be engaged by the ram on its return stroke for the release of said support, a cam adjacent said latch and adapted to cam said latch out of engagement with the ram, spring means biasing said latch to its non-operative position, a plate adapted to engage the capsule cap retaining plate at a point clear of the caps in said capsule retaining plate, means linking said plate to a latch adapted to be engaged on the return stroke of said ram, cam means adjacent said latch and adapted to cam said second mentioned latch out of engagement with said ram and spring means adapted to move said second mentioned latch back to its original nonoperative position.

No references cited. 

